ESPN, Harrah's Entertainment Extend Agreement To Telecast World Series of Poker(R) Through 2010.

LAS VEGAS -- ESPN, Inc., the worldwide leader in sports, and Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET), the world's largest gaming company, today announced an agreement to extend ESPN's coverage of the World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee's Best Light through 2010.

The companies also announced that, for the first time in history, ESPN will offer a live pay-per-view telecast of final-table play at the $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold'Em World Championship, widely regarded as the Main Event of the World Series of Poker. Last year the World Series of Poker awarded nearly $53 million in prize money to contestants of this event, with world champion Joe Hachem earning $7.5 million.

"Since 1993, ESPN has been the exclusive telecast partner of the World Series of Poker. Its programming expertise and global distribution has helped our tournament become the biggest and the best," said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. "This new agreement - by far the largest television deal in poker history - affirms our mutual commitment to growth and further establishes the World Series of Poker as the No. 1 brand in poker and as a leader on the sports and entertainment landscape."

"This agreement signifies our commitment to provide both our core and casual viewers with programming that offers the highest levels of competition and entertainment value across a variety of media assets," said John Wildhack, ESPN senior vice president, programming acquisitions and strategy. "We look forward to continuing to build this premier franchise with our partners at Harrah's."

The 2005 World Series of Poker awarded more than $103 million in total prize money, reinforcing its position as the richest and most prestigious event in gaming.

Poker enthusiasts will be able to see all the action from the final table of the Main Event as it unfolds with The World Series of Poker Live! The pay-per-view program, available on home television screens or live video screen at ESPN.com, is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday, August 10, and continue until the new world champion is crowned.

The pay-per-view telecast, with a suggested retail price of $24.95, will be offered in addition to ESPN's regularly television presentation of the World Series of Poker and the Circuit championships; 32 hours of coverage will be telecast on ESPN beginning July 18 at 8 and 9 p.m. EDT. Viewers who want to purchase The World Series of Poker Live! may order ESPN Pay-Per-View Online at www.espnpayperview.com or by contacting their pay-per-view provider.

ESPN has televised the World Series of Poker eight times. The network began its coverage with the 1993 World Series of Poker.

ESPN Original Entertainment is developing a wide variety of branded programming to add to the ESPN network's comprehensive event and sports-news coverage. Using a collection of genres - original movies, reality-based shows, dramatic series, documentaries, game shows and more - ESPN seeks to broaden its audience by appealing more strongly to younger and casual sports fans.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., which acquired the World Series of Poker in 2004, is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment through operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 68 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.